Under the Stairs ...

Lovely, lovely...

Jonas Ingerstedt via Desire to Inspire

Shop Dreaming ...

This is almost exactly what I want my shop to look like one day ... can never top a black and white blind and those lovely French doors casually flung open ... now, just to find the actual shop and get that perfect puppy!

One day ... hopefully not too far away xx

Image from the always lovely blog Marley and Lockyer xx

Shop Love ...

Here are some photos of a fabulous shop called Kabinett and Kammer that I am sure I will never get to since it is in New York!
Oh well... maybe one day... but in the meantime I can dream...

It is crammed full of a great selection of medical curiosities... always a fan

The owner sure has a spectacular eye when it comes to furniture ...

And the masses of botanical and anatomical charts in stock clearly indicates why I can never find any! He has bought them all!

Lovely mismatched chairs!

Can someone please go there and tell me all about it... in the meantime I will dream from afar x

Kabinett & Kammer

Rust ...

Loving these rusty Christmas decorations at Re-found...
While I definitely have enough decorations, I think I could squeeze a few of these in still!

Pug Eared ...

This poor little dude is one of Valentino's pugs, I can't wait to see that movie and all those little darlings - Only he would make his puppy wear earrings in the name of fashion ... !

Rufus would have certainly objected, but he was one headstrong and naughty puppy!

Happy weekend dear friends xx

Here

Clutter ...

This room is such a happy jumble ... I especially love the pale blue urn on the stack of books and magazines... inspiring me to paint things in unexpected colours ...

Here

Stable Love ...

Was totally gob-smacked when I saw these shots over at Loft Life Magazine ... heaven is a converted stable all of my own ...

Imagine the parties you could hold in here? Love ...

Stumped ...

Just gorgeous... I love the tree stumps for bedside tables and the up-high baby antlers ...
Not to mention those fabulous mirrors ... stunning!

Here

Re-decorate ...

Have had a bit of a redecorating weekend ... was meant to be doing other things of course but cracking open the Christmas decoration boxes was just too tempting! Bedroom has been Christmafied... now just to find my tree and finish the rest - these shots are of my bedside tables crammed to the gills...

Above, I made a giant snow dome with a cloche and a hanging snowflake...

And for the visiting (and therefore empty) side, I wrapped one of my many globes up in brown paper like a present and propped it next to the last of my pink peonys...

I love a bit of a change around!

Airmail Reading ...

This looks just like my title! I'm a massive judge a book by it's cover girl so who knows but it does look interesting ... might add it to my list of books to read over the Christmas break ...

Love this site ... check it out!

I Adore You ...

I love this bag ...
My favourite combo of tan leather and canvas... sigh.

Here

Good Wood ...

Am having a bit of a moment with wooden accents currently ... who would have thought these palettes could look so chic stacked up behind this gorgeously dressed bed?
It's a bit of a glamping look ... I like it!

And this shot is so over the top but I love! This is my kind of panelling ... mismatched and scrubby ... and perfectly capped off with that killer antler chandelier...

And lastly, while not usually a fan of these Asian inspired screens, this one is perfectly accented with the Zulu feathered headdress...

Did I ever mention that when I was in South Africa I nearly bought one (I like to think this was before they were popular!) ... it was huge, stunning and the deepest jet black - I would have loved it forever...
Never again will I travel and not buy what my instincts tell me to!

Photos : Daily Danny, not sure and even less sure (as always, if you know the source, please let me know!)

Surfs Up ...

Couldn't resist... this is just too funny to not post it!
Happy weekend xx

Striped Loveliness ...

I could definitely handle this bathroom ... anything clad entirely in black and white stripes is perfectly fine with me xx

Here

Ship Shape ...

Thinking about a change of direction in my decorating this Christmas ... last year I did a mix of glassy icicles and turquoise, and the year before was brown paper with red and white stripes...

Perhaps I could treat myself to a few of these nautically inspired Anthropologie lovelies to shake things up a bit? Christmas as a pirate ... hmmm... could work!

Aren't they simply adorable?

New Love ...

New blog obsession... I'm probably the last person to be swept up in his fabulousness but interior designer and blogger Grant K Gibson is the bomb!

Exhibit 1 - toilet roll holders are out and keeping ones paper in a vintage trophy on a Corinthian column is always more appropriate ... I love him already.

Exhibit 2 - all of it! Faultless ...

Exhibit 3 - again, divine ... what a perfectly styled vignette...

And the piece de resistance, Exhibit 4 - the man is a genius! He painted his bedroom this stunning shade of blue, trimmed the curtains in my favourite Greek key motif, and customised his bed with that perfectly chosen camel toned bedhead ... and all in a rental!
Be still my beating heart x

And he has 2 perfect white puppies... just to make him even more adorable!

Go check him out immediately ... I said now ...!

PS I've also just seen him featured over at Beefy darling ... check it out there too xx

NY Times

Pretty ...

Simply stunning images, as seen over at the always chic, inspirational and thoughtful The City Sage ...

I've had a lovely weekend trawling some of my much loved blogs, trying to get back into the swing of things!
Promise to become a bit more reliable dear friends xx

Puppy Frown ...

Pip, ever successful hunter and gatherer of fabulous puppy shots (along with darling Kim of course, who, while not the biggest fan of a pug, will still tirelessly search them out for me!), sent this little dude over ... he is titled the Saddest Dog in the World...
I think someone stole his lunch - nothing makes a pug more upset than having to go hungry (even if he has just eaten!)

Hope you have a happier weekend my lovelies xx

Hmmm...

This ... on the other hand ... may be just a little OTT (even for me!)
Thoughts?

Nautical Obsessive ...

Loving these bedrooms darlings ...
Anything with little shipping lights as sconces is sure to float my boat ... hehe, get it?

Sad, I know... just ignore me ...

Coastal Living

Reformed ...

Getting very excited about hotels at the moment ... not sure why, have no holiday time left after France!

This one is therefore, torture... stunning AND unattainable!

Gotta love a glam bathroom ...
The crisp interiors combines with that gorgeous shingled building, and lovely sunken garden would make it a super place to lay ones weary head ...

Sigh ...

B & M Barn ...

Fabulousness in every way, shape and form kids!
I think this is my perfect house... even though I have said that before, it is true this time!!!

Behold, the exquisite country abode of Mark Badgley and James Mischka ...

Nothing to say here ... words do it no justice ... wiping away my tears ...

Still no words ... sob ...

So masculine (words are back now) but still glittering crystals lend it warmth ...
A library dining room would be a dream come true ...

Vintage Louis? These boys have left not one chic detail out...

Am about to order monogrammed pillow cases because this is really floating ones boat ... I love the trophys above the bed!
Sigh, swoon and gasp ...

Elle Decor

Lovely Stripes...

This is on sale and I think Liz wants me to have it for my summer wardrobe ...

Miow ...

Even though I am not the biggest kitty fan, Kim sent this over and I have to admit, it is a little bit cute ... just a little bit though!

Back to better pets (such as pugs) next week! Hehe ...

Dotty ...

Pretty spots from J Crew just in time for summer ...
Oh, why can't we have a shop in Australia??? Not fair ...

Viceroy ...

Spent about 5 hours watching The Hills season 4 on DVD on the weekend ...
and this was the fabulous hotel where Justin Bobby and Audrina stayed in Palm springs ... The Viceroy

I love, love, love ... these punches of yellow with the Greek key design as accent ... lots of mirror - love!

Fabulous plaque over the interior curtains ... and the chain lanterns! Ah, such great design ... so clean and crisp and stylish ...

And just a little more perfection ... want to make my bedroom over with punches of yellow immediately!

Circle Barn ...

Another perfect barn...
Just had to share it with you ...!

Here

Monday Barn Envy ...

Very lovely house ... very, very lovely in fact ...
Of course it's in Sag Harbour ...
One day I'll get there!

Would never have chosen that bed spread but it works?!
Loving the long shelves and random frames ...

But this is the best bit ... it looks like a barn! You must think I was raised in a barn, I talk about them so much!
This photo, with the white gravel, clipped low hedge and up-lit trees framing the glass picture window, is just about as perfect as can be ...
sigh!

Happy Monday xx

Marie Claire Maison

Sleepy Pair ...

These dudes have the right idea ... all I feel like doing is sleeping but have to fire up for the AFL grand final this weekend instead ... going to be loads of fun but it will eat into valuable sleeping time ...

Hope you get more sleep than me! Happy weekend xx

Canberra Decorating Trip ...

Woops ... thought I had a few posts up my sleeve that should have been firing out this week ... am clearly super organised in my quest to more regularly post!
Sorry ...

So, I was in Canberra over the weekend on whirlwind decorating tour of my little sister's new apartment ... what started as frat house is now Hampton's/French chic deliciousness!
And all on a meager budget ... my very favourite type of decorating.

Many fabulous finds in the second hand shops including a terrible looking behind the couch console table (hence the picture above of a lovely one!), but now slathered in layers of lovely white gloss looks just divine. Console tables are the best! This coupled with a gigantic neutral rug meant that we could put lamps behind the couch and run the cord across the room under the rug - this is my favourite trick as it makes the lamps look as though they have popped up in the centre of a room ... always lovely! I just can't cope unless the lighting is right!

All 3 lamps were major bargains, one in gorgeous alabaster and gold and the other 2 in matching pale Sandi wood - they all got lovely new white shades which I trimmed in thin natural rope. Also had a hilarious coffee table event with the man bargaining himself down to $5 without us even saying a word! Clearly this also received the white gloss slather too ...

And lastly we framed a massive 2x3 canvas with calico, a wide strip of pale grey cotton and a thinner strip of navy bunched satin over some white broderie anglais fabric hung vertically across the centre - very hard to explain but Georgie promises me that she will take photos and I will post them.
Poor George had no idea what I was going to do with this fabric but now after seeing my decorating brain in action she seems to understand how it usually works out in the end!

Then we got masses of illegally procured blossom and branches from the park across the road and styled the place up ... dramatic improvement and I'm just tickled pink that she loved it xx

I feel like Julie off Master Chef when she says cooking is how she shows her love ... decorating is definitely how I show my love ...

So, lots of fun was had wielding my staple gun around the ACT ... by gosh, I am in the wrong profession! Photos to come dear friends xx

Hehe, this little darling just makes me laugh... such a somber little face!
I wonder what he is waiting for?

Have a lovely weekend xx

Flickr

Baker ...

I would kill to get my hands on a baker's rack like this ... what a great place to stack props?

Kelly McGuill

Cliff Wedding ...

I really love the set up for this Italian wedding by the one and only Colin Cowie ...
What a spectacular cliff setting ... who would have thought rocks could be so romantic!

Splish Splash ...

I posted a lovely chrome and glass bathroom last week I think, and have found some more inspiration in my files to add to the pile of evidence for my builders one day when I have a little ramshackle cottage or warehouse to renovate!

The one above is going to take a lot of space, but I think it looks worth it!

This darling is probably a bit more realistic, and none the less divine.
Subway tile heaven ...

Can't find my references, sorry!

Industrial and Scrubbed ...

Some fabulous industrial medical props in this Ohio house featured in Country Living ...

It's darkish inside, but I think it really suits the furniture ...
I would die to find a few of those stools...

I am, as usual, enamoured by bathroom design ...
I love the planked walls and the pillar to the left with some old medical bottles propped casually atop ...

This room is amazing! The stools! The lamp! The bench!

And to finish off, another metal cabinet, not looking out of place in the least in this living room when propped with antlers and a mirror ...

Interior goodness!

Memories ...

Missing France ...
This is Mum writing postcards on the little terrace outside ...
(With tears in her eyes because we really didn't want to leave!)

This was the view ... and why we didn't want to leave!
Obvious now, hey?

The view to the main house... and their lovely fluffy puppy Socrates ... he made it all the better!

If you ever get the chance to go to Candes St Martin, just do it - the most perfectly lovely peaceful little village I have ever had the great joy to visit.

Happy weekend bloggy friends xx

Strawberry Swing ...

Perfect clip, matching an equally as lovely song - whimsy at its very, very best x

Coldplay

Bright and White ...

Gorgeous in every way.
Love the absence of up-cupboards and how the fridge must be hidden under the stairs ...
And how for once there is no chandelier in the ceiling - I love them, but they have become a bit of the norm - do you agree?

Country Home

Ship Shape ...

Some lovely photos of a fantastic show home interior by one of my favourite interior designers, Suzanne Kasler...
This is a shot of the bunk house... I love that horizontal planking (must remember this and note for future interiors) ...
And that cabinet? Sigh...

And from the reverse angle ... how divine and fun are the beds suspended with rope?
Note the roll up blinds suspended with nail head trim ... !

Now this is amazing ... red leather built in furniture! Loving the little ship light and the wooden fans as well...

Again, the styling is done so perfectly... it isn't over the top but it is still undoubtedly a modern nautical interior ... that ladder is such a well thought out detail, finishes the room just beautifully...

She has my dream job...!

Photos from Suzanne Kasler and Willow Decor

Don ...

Oh Don, you are such a bad man, but I still heart you ... we always fall for the bad boys, don't we?

Who else is obsessed with Mad Men in every way, shape and form?

Annie Liebovitz for Vanity Fair

Snoozy ...

Enjoy a relaxing weekend friends xx

Here

Chrome ...

Bathroom love... nothing beats a bit of subway tiling, frosty glass and some glossy chrome ...

No idea about the credits ... help if you know!

Scent ...

Clive Christian, cabinet maker extraordinaire and prolific British designer, has stepped into perfume...
I'm sure this is not breaking news to many, but these bottles are to die for!
I am in the market for a new scent and am almost tempted to buy just for the crown on top ... x

Envy ...

Just a little bit of Hampton's torture.... why does every house look so much better when clad in shingles?
Happy Monday xx

Here ...

Hip Hip Hooray ...

My heartfelt best wishes go to my dear friend Kim (of the famous BB blog....) today as she begins her new adventure ...
She will be an amazing success - guaranteed.

And I am super excited that she is coming over for a 4 day shopping bonanza/relaxing break with me here in Melbs ... can't wait to see you tomorrow my dearest ...

Posting will get cracking again next week ... Happy weekend friends xx

Turtle Pug ...

Pug baby being a turtle ... too sweet ...
Happy weekend friends ... x

LV love ...

No words can adequately describe this coffee table perfection ...

LV in a perspex case ... divine...

Here

French Divine ...

French fabulosity ...
this is Marcel Marongiu's gorgeous place as featured in Marie Claire Maison ...

Even though I think the bed is a little on the low side, still, I love the composition of this bedroom ... the paintings hung in that horizontal strip is unusual and striking, and I adore the restrained colour scheme (or lack there of) ...

More of the same restrained palate ...golden accents in the frames add an air of faded grandeur and elegance...
And I am impressed he hasn't tried to hide the stereo too - it is about the only touch that makes it look like a boys house really!

And here is the sitting room from the back angle, looking behind the screen to the bedroom beyond ... makes me miss my loft so much - nothing like a secret bedroom behind a screen ...

Wicked ...

Had the most amazing experience this weekend - went to see Wicked with my sister, and it was truly wicked!

I am not sure if I have let on before just how much I am completely obsessed with musicals and every time I leave a theater, I just desperately want to work there! behind the scenes of course but I could work on set design and costumes all day and be a happy, happy girl ...

Perhaps this is the turn my career should take? Who knows, but I will definitely be seeing it again for some more inspiration...

The music is fabulous, and the set is truly extravagant - a few scenes are flooded with millions of fairy lights which made me gasp, but the rest you will have to see for yourself - highly recommended xx

Picture Perfect ...

Loving these shots ... genius ...

Perfect coffee table ...

Books over the door? Sigh ...

Heaven ...

Skona Hem ... who else loves this?